Let’s Keep the Iran Debate Civil (Jeremy Ben Ami, J-Street)
There's no room in this discussion to question Senator Schumer's patriotism or accuse President Obama of abetting a Holocaust, writes Jeremy Ben-Ami.
Read more at http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial-opinion/opinion/lets-keep-iran-debate-civil#41APHUUtIU0VJckr.99
The debate in the United States over the Iran nuclear agreement has taken an ugly turn in recent days, with charges of anti-Semitism, treason and Munich-like appeasement being thrown around.
As someone who passionately believes that this agreement is a vital U.S. interest that will also make Israel safer, I would hope that those on all sides of the argument could agree that there’s no room for such attacks – from either side. We should be debating this agreement on its merits. That’s why my organization, J Street, unreservedly rejects the disgusting smears that have been hurled at Senator Chuck Schumer, insinuating that his opposition to the Iran agreement somehow makes him a traitor or calls his loyalty to the United States into question.
We don’t agree with Senator Schumer’s opposition to the agreement; we think his arguments are flawed. But there should be no room in this debate for questioning his patriotism and devotion to both the United States and its special relationship with Israel. At the same time, there should also be no tolerance for opponents of the deal to accuse President Obama of selling out the United States or preparing the way for a second Holocaust – as Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has done....
....Let’s debate this agreement. Let’s analyze its provisions and listen to the experts. But let’s not allow the very serious threat of anti-Semitism to be cheapened by ignoring its unwelcome presence in some of the vitriol directed at Senator Schumer, or by its cynical misuse in false accusations against the President.
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